Todd finds himself closely relating to retired Officer Jerry Turning who has learned that patience, relatability, and trust lead to better outcomes in interactions between the autism community and law enforcement. Todd has learned similar lessons in his medical career and he and Jerry take inventory on how autism has shaped them as people and professionals in s2. E4. N14. of the Otherness Podcast titled Professionals Are Not The Autism Experts, Families Are.

Todd finds a meaningful connection with retired Officer Jerry Turning whose blog “Bacon and Juiceboxes” and book “Desperate Pursuits” describe the internal struggles and steep learning curve that come from being a K9 police officer and autism dad. He has now forged a new career in retirement helping first responders and the autism community make meaningful connections.

For the second part of his conversation with retired Officer Jerry Turning, Todd finds out much more about how Jerry felt terror and sadness when trying to help families affected by autism get through crises. He emotionally describes a situation where a bruised grandmother called the police to help calm her grandson with autism who was aggressive and destructive. Jerry made the call, to the confusion and alarm of his fellow officers, to leave the house when the grandson was able to calm down. He stayed in his cruiser nearby and was ready to help if the grandmother needed help. He feels we have to do better and the families are the experts when it comes to engaging their members with autism. Jerry imagines his son being physically restrained and brought to a hospital where he still may not receive adequate help and that drives him towards finding other ways to de-escalate crises. Todd relates to Jerry’s experiences and has found it very liberating to admit he does not know what to do at times and feels we don’t have control of the human condition. Jerry described how acting like you have control and know things when you actually do not will make a stressful situation much, much worse.

The Otherness Podcast is exploring and engaging autism through experienced stories with Dr. Todd Peter Levine and is available on most places and sites where you like to listen to podcasts.


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Opening Theme Song Music Credits
“Otherness Podcast Intro Theme Song and Music” by Nicholas Burling
Copyright 2021 Late Leopard Publishing/Nick Burling (ASCAP)
Administered by Late Leopard Publishing (ASCAP)
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Closing Theme Song Music Credits
“Otherness Podcast Outro Theme Song and Music” by Nicholas Burling
Copyright 2021 Late Leopard Publishing (ASCAP)
Administered by Late Leopard Publishing (ASCAP)
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Professionals Are Not The Autism Experts, Families Are.